WEBVTT CONNECTIONS TO OTHER PARTS OFFLORIDA.OUR JIMMIE JOHNSON VISITED THESTATION TODAY.JIMMIE: BRIGHTLINE REMAININGTIGHTLIPPED ABOUT IT'S OFFICIALLAUNCH DATE, BUT WE KNOW THEYPLAN TO BEGIN SERVICE FROM WESTPALM BEACH TO FORT LAUDERDALESOMETIME THIS WEEK.THERE WHERE LOTS OF LEGALHICCUPS ALONG THE WAY, BUTBRIGHTLINE'S HIGH-SPEED RAILSERVICE WILL SOON BE DEPARTINGON A REGULAR BASIS FROM WESTPALM BEACH.>> IT IS A SLEEK, SMOOTH, FASTVERY COMFORTABLE, AND IT'SREALLY SOMETHING THAT I THINKFOR ALL THE HYPE THAT'S BEEN OUTTHERE ABOUT IT, I'M NOT SURE NOWEXPERIENCING IT, THERE'S BEENENOUGH HYPE. JIMMIE: JIM KOWALSKY, PRESIDENTOF FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAYSOCIETY, IS A TRAIN ENTHUSIAST. HE AND DOZENS OF OTHERS AMONGTHE FIRST SELECTED BY THECOMPANY TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'SLIKE TO RIDE THE 240-PASSENGERTRAIN.ONE THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CONNECTMIAMI TO ORLANDO BY RAIL.BUT RIGHT NOW IN ITSINTRODUCTORY PHASE, THE TRAINWILL MAKE STOPS IN WEST PALMBEACH AND FORT LAUDERDALE.>> GOING DOWN, WE WERE RIGHT ATABOUT 40 MINUTES, WHICH WAS THESCHEDULED TIME.COMING BACK, I THINK WE WERE IN36 MINUTES.SO YOU KNOW, YOU'RE 35, 40MINUTES BETWEEN HERE ANDDOWNTOWN LAUDERDALE.THERE'S NO BETTER WAY TO DOTHAT. JIMMIE: WHILE ONLY A SELECTPEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCEDWHAT IT'S LIKE TO RIDE, LASTYEAR, WPBF 25 NEWS GOT ACCESS TOVIEW INSIDE THE TRAIN.IT'S FITTED WITH LEATHER SEATS,TABLE TOPS FOR LAPTOPS, STORAGEFOR BAGS, AND PLENTY OF PLACESTO PLUG IN YOUR GADGETS.KOWALSKY SAYS IT'S A NEW ANDCOMFORTABLE WAY TO TRAVEL.ONE HE BELIEVES WILL SOON HAVE ABIG IMPACT ON FLORIDA'STRANSPORTATION LANDSCAPE.>> IT MAKES MORE CONNECTIVITYWITHOUT HAVING TO FIGHT AND GETTHROUGH THE TRAFFIC ON 95. JIMMIE: IT'S UNCLEAR WHENBRIGHT LINE WILL BEGIN ITS

Brightline officials remain tightlipped about its official launch date, but WPBF 25 News has learned the company plans to begin service from West Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale this week.

Over the last few years, the company has undergone a lot of legal hiccups, but the high-speed rail service will soon be departing on a regular basis from West Palm Beach.

Advertisement

"it is a sleek, smooth, fast, very comfortable and it's really something that I think for all the hype that's been out there about it. I'm not sure now experiencing it there's been enough hype," said Jim Kowalsky, President of Florida East Coast Railway Society.

Kowalsky is a train enthusiast and was elated when he and dozens of others were the first selected by the company to experience what it's like to ride the 240-passenger train.

Right now, the train is in its introductory phase, only making stops in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, but will eventually take passengers from Miami to Orlando. Sunday evening, Kowalsky and his wife were on a train to Fort Lauderdale.

"Going down. We were right at about 40 minutes, which was the scheduled time. Coming back, I think we were in 36 minutes," said Kowalsky. "So, you know, you're 35-40 minutes from here to Fort Lauderdale. There's no better way to do that."

While only a select people have experienced what it is like to ride, last year, WPBF 25 News got access to view inside the train.

The dual locomotives are fitted with leather seats, table tops for laptops, storage for bags, and plenty of places to plug in your gadgets.

Kowalsky said it is the new and comfortable way to travel. One he believes will soon have a big impact on Florida’s changing transportation landscape.

"It makes more connectivity without having to fight and get through the traffic on 95," said Kowalsky.

Brightline has not said when it will begin its service taking passengers to Miami or Orlando.